Mrs. Eigleen was astounded enough not to contradict her. “Perhaps,” she said.
Eepersip descended again and ran off to her safe hiding-place in the lilac-bush. “She is so, so lovely!” she thought. “I want her more and more.”
In a short time little Fleuriss appeared with Mrs. Eigleen. “Fleuriss,” said her mother, “you may play here in the garden, but don’t go outside it, and don’t climb the trees.”
“All right, Mother.”
“And don’t run off and worry me as you did once before.” She had not forgotten Eepersip. Perhaps she scented something in the air. Those flowers troubled her.
“No, I won’t.”
Mrs. Eigleen went in, and Fleuriss began to run about and play. Then Eepersip stepped out from under the bush, and the lovely butterflies, lured by her flowers, fluttered and hovered around her.
“Oh,” said Fleuriss,“ goodness, how you frightened me. Sit down on the grass, and talk with me. And how do you get those butterflies? They always fly away from me.”
“Listen, Fleuriss,” said Eepersip. “I am Eepersip, who ran away. The butterflies and birds all love me and come to me in great flocks when I call them. And I want you. I want to take you with me to live wild, and eat leaves and berries with the birds—sweet red berries. And if you come the butterflies will gather around you, too. They will not any other way. And look at all my flowers! Butterflies love my flowers.”
“Oh, did you bring me those bee-yoo-ti-ful flowers?”